JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
May 5, 1881. ] 
365 
is derived from the old Sanscrit, in which language the word Debora 
signifies a bee. But the name of Debora is at the present day applied 
to the hornet in Ceylon, and this may probably have given rise to 
the erroneous statement which has reached Europe from Ceylon 
about Apis dorsata building its combs horizontally. A scientific 
gentleman in the Civil Service of the English Government of Ceylon 
assured me that he had measured a comb of the Bambera in the 
primeval forest near Adam’s Beak, and found it to be more than 
t> feet in length. This comb contained so much honey that the 
branch of the tree to which it was attached had actually broken 
from the weight of it. Another highly respectable gentleman assured 
me that he had seen thirty people laden with honey and wax just as 
they were about to leave near a hollow tree in which the Bambera 
had settled, all this honey and wax having been taken from that one 
tree. I saw' a comb of this species in the museum on the island of 
Ceylon ; it was 3J feet long by 2 feet wide, and 1^ inch thick. It 
had only been used for rearing worker bees, but where the honey had 
been stored it was about 4 inches thick. 
“ I have tasted the honey collected by Apis dorsata, and if it had 
not been pointed out to me as such I should certainly have taken it 
for honey from our yellow bee, Apis mellifica. 
“ I quite believe Apis dorsata to be suitable for breeding. We 
must not be prejudiced against these bees because they build their 
combs in the open air. Our yellow bee does the same thing in 
tropical countries, and when unable to find a suitable place to settle.* 
“ I hope to be back in Cyprus in the month of April in order to 
continue breeding Cyprian bees during the present year, and to 
despatch queens of these bees to Europe. 
“ Your Sincere Eriend, 
“ (Signed) Frank Benton.” 
The above is the account of my esteemed friend concerning his 
endeavours to hunt up Apis dorsata in its native country, in 
order to acclimatise these bees in Cyprus and America. As soon 
as I receive further news I will not fail to make it known through 
the columns of this paper. 
In conclusion I may remark that this article has, in addition to 
the Bicnenzeitung, been communicated to editors of other journals 
with whom I am on friendly terms. 
Briix, 8th March, 1881. (Signed) Eduard Cori. 
* Our native black bee if unable to find a suitable habitation when swarming 
sometimes builds in the open air. A case of this kind, though of rare occurrence, 
happened a few years ago on the Bavarian frontier at a distance of an hour’s 
ride from the town of Eger, where a swarm of bees had made combs in the 
branches of a young Fir tree. I have been informed of this occurrence by 
bee-keepers of Eger.— The Writer op tiie Above Article. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Bruant, Poitiers, Yienne, France .—Catalogue of Plants. 
John Halliday, Bridge of Allan .—Catalogue of Gladioli, Roses, 
Pansies, cfc. 
*** All correspondence should be directed either to “ The Editor ” 
or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. Hogg or 
members of the staff often remain unopened unavoidably. We 
request that no one will write privately to any of our correspon¬ 
dents, as doing so subjects them to unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, and 
should never send more than two or three questions at once. All 
articles intended for insertion should be written on one side of 
the paper only. We cannot reply to questions through the post, 
and we do not undertake to return rejected communications. 
Hardiness of Roses (A Subscriber).—All the Roses you name, grown as 
dwarfs and protected with manure in the autumn, will survive all ordinary 
winters except in unusually cold districts. In mild winters they would succeed 
as standards. 
Exhibiting Dahlias and Pansies (Cottage Gardener ).—Some societies 
state the sizes of the boxes in which the flowers must be shown. A box 7 inches 
high at the back, 5 inches in front, and 18 inches wide would be suitable for 
three rows of Dahlias, the length being determined by the number of blooms to 
be exhibited, allowing 6 inches for each bloom. The larger the blooms are, 
provided they are firm, symmetrical, and bright and clear in colour, the better; 
but large blooms, if coarse, would be passed by the judges. The holes in the 
boxes for Pansies should be 2J inches apart. You will find the properties of 
flowers in our “ Florists’ Flowers ” Manual, which you can have in return for 
4 %d. in postage stamps. 
Recommending Nurserymen ( Captain , R.N.).— As we have many 
times stated, it is quite impossible that we can recommend any particular 
nurseryman ; it would be most invidious and unfair for us to do so, as it would 
be a tacit condemnation of others who deserve no such mark of diszpproval. 
You are much too late in seeking what you require, and you can scarcely expect 
to be served in a satisfactory manner with what you want until the autumn, 
when you will have no difficulty whatever in procuring what you require. 
Stopping Peach Trees (A C.). —As you do not desire to increase the 
size of the trees all the shoots may be pinched at the third leaf, the three leaves 
being large, not counting small imperfect leaves that often form at the base of 
the shoot. The shoots following must be pinched at the first leaf, continuing 
the practice as long as necessary. If the trees are much crowded with growths 
a portion of them may be removed entirely, as if the spurs are very numerous the 
foliage is too much crowded for the production of fruit buds. When the pinch¬ 
ing is properly done and the trees are in other respects well managed Peaches 
bear as well on spurs as on young wood, the fruit buds in both cases being 
formed during the current year. 
Syringa not Flowering (A. S. R.). —The severe pruning to which you 
allude is the cause of the shrub not flowering. The growths produced after the 
pruning would be luxuriant, and if these were again cut down similar results 
must follow. If you cease pruning, or only prune very slightly and judiciously, 
obtaining smaller shoots than can be matured by full exposure to the sun, 
thinning out superfluous growths if needed to prevent overcrowding, your shrub 
will again flower. When a Syringa is well formed and in flowering condition 
it will continue so, if it is not pruned beyond the removal of any branch or shoot 
that is out of place and mars the appearance of the specimen. If your shrub 
had not been pruned at all it would have continued flowering. 
Removing Conifers (R. IV. R.). —Very much depends on the nature of 
the soil in the successful removal of Conifers. In some soils they produce an 
abundance of fibrous roots, to which the earth adheres with considerable tenacity ; 
in other ground the roots are fewer and less fibrous, and the soil falls from them 
when moved. If you will adopt a safe plan by digging round the specimens now 
quite below the roots, and if you can place soil containing much vegetable 
matter, such as decayed leaves and similar refuse, in the trenches, pressing it 
firmly, you will encourage the production of fibres, which will be of great value 
when the specimens are transplanted. The distance of the trenches from the 
stem must depend entirely on the size of the trees, and especially of their diameter 
at the base, which you do not name. The whole work must be done with 
thought and care. 
Growing Flowers for Perfumery (J. E., New York).— Since you 
have no practical knowledge of this subject, and as we are unable to supply the 
information you need, the best advice we can give you is to write to Messrs. 
Piesse & Lubin, perfumers, Bond Street, London, and they will send you par¬ 
ticulars of a work which they publish, and which will be of service to you; 
they may perhaps also be able to give you other instruction on the subject 
such as you appear to require. 
Raising Seeds of Indiarubber Plants ( San Juan). —Prepare some 
pots or pans by draining them thoroughly with potsherds, on which should 
bo placed a little rough soil or moss, then filling up with finely sifted soil and 
sand in equal parts. Sow the seeds, and cover them with about half an inch 
depth of similar soil, plunging the pots in a hotbed or propagating frame, being 
careful that too much water is not given, and also that the soil is not allowed 
to become dry. If the seeds have been thoroughly ripened they may germinate 
in the course of a month or a little more. The implement you mention continues 
satisfactory and is not likely to get out of order. 
Horticultural Shows in June {Mrs. Webster). —The following Exhi¬ 
bitions will be held in London during the period you name. The Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society, South Kensington, Great Summer Show, June 3rd ; Evening 
Fete, Rose and Pelargonium Show, June 28th. Royal Botanic Society, Regent’s 
Park, Evening Fete, June 15th ; Summer Show, June 22nd. Croydon, June29th ; 
and Richmond, June 30th. The National Rose Society’s Show will be held at 
the Crystal Palace, July 2nd. 
Peach Flowers Dropping (M. D.). —Peach trees cast their buds from a 
variety of causes, the most common perhaps being drought at the roots, not at 
the time when the blossoms ought to be expanded only, but many months 
previously. Overcrowding of the growths in summer, attacks of red spider, 
immaturity of the wood, and a close atmosphere, all contribute to the same 
result. It is impossible for us to say what has been the cause of the evil in your 
case on the data you have afforded us. A portion of the wood would have aided 
us in arriving at a decision ; but in the meantime we advise you to examine the 
border 2 feet below the surface. Many borders have a moist appearance when the 
soil is dry below, and in such a case the flowers must fall. 
Fuchsias Diseased (A. -4., Bury). —4Ve are not able to account for the 
condition of your Fuchsias on the data you have afforded. We perceive there 
have been insects on them, and we think tlirips, which are very injurious, and 
when numerous cause results similar to those before us; but we do not think 
they have been in such great numbers as to injure the plants so seriously. We 
are intimately acquainted with a gardener who grew Fuchsias luxuriantly in one 
place, and in another no plants gave him so much trouble; the w'ood ripened 
prematurely, and the growths had a rusted appearance much like those you have 
sent. He tried various mixtures of soils, loam forming the base, but with un¬ 
satisfactory results. At length on close investigation the soil of the field from 
which the loam w r as taken was much impregnated with iron. Loam w'as then 
obtained from another source, and the plants then grew satisfactorily. Cut off all 
the diseased portions, and try some soil from another district. 
Pruning Dwarf Apple Trees (J. S., Cairnie).— As you require the trees 
very dw'arf you will not succeed in having fruitful specimens if they are not 
worked on a dwarf-growing and precocious stock. You had better prune them 
at once, the same as you would prune Red Currants—that is, by removing the 
side growths if any, and shorten the ends to the length desired in accordance 
with the form and symmetry of the trees. If the branches are numerous thin 
them out, and in summer pinch the side growths when they have formed four 
good leaves, allowing the ends to grow, at least until August. It is summer, not 
winter, pruning that induces fruitfulness and restricts the luxuriant growth of 
trees. Details of pruning the various kinds of Roses have been frequently given. 
No one can answer your question without knowing the kind of Roses to which 
you refer and their condition. You can only check the roots of the Ash trees by 
constantly cutting them, at least if you require crops of some kind to grow on 
the site that has been trenched. Your objects, aud the conditions of the cases 
you have submitted, are not sufficiently explained to enable us to reply to your 
questions satisfactorily. 
Flies on Peach and Nectarine (Z?.).— 1 The pale insect with large 
gauzy wings is a lacewinged fly (Hemerobius perla), of utility because the grub 
feeds upon aphides. The dark stout-bodied fly is Leptis scolopacea, a species 
not unfrequent in gardens ; its grub feeds upon decayed roots. Neither of 
these can have anything to do with the injury sustained by the leaves, and on 
